Maxine Hicks
Mildred Maxine Sharp Hicks, 88, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was welcomed to her heavenly home on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, preceded six days prior by her husband of 68 years, Roy W. Hicks.
She was born in Floral, Arkansas to the late Biram Cleburne and Nobie Pearl (Altom) Sharp.
Maxine, the youngest of five children, finished High school at age 16, graduating from Floral High School. She attended Arkansas College (now Lyon College) graduating with a B.A. in 1950. It was in college that she met her husband to be. After college Maxine taught school for one year in Mountain Home, Arkansas, then married Roy Hicks on July 22 1951. While Roy completed seminary studies in Georgia, Maxine taught in the Decatur schools.
As a teacher, Maxine taught children in grades from kindergarten to high school over her career. She loved teaching and imparting the joy of learning to all ages; whether it was teaching kindergarteners to tie shoes, 6th graders to find South American countries and capitals, or teaching 8th graders to diagram sentences. She even led her elementary students as the Statue of Liberty in a bicentennial parade.
Maxine served her community as well, in the churches they served she was a leader in Presbyterian women, and at times played piano for services. She and Roy enjoyed square dancing. In Somerset, Ky., they were part of the Somer-Sets dance club for many years. Maxine was a member the DAR while in Kentucky, and loved to review the genealogy of the family.
Maxine loved her family, her students, her Church, and she LOVED to travel!
Maxine is preceded in death by her parents; four older siblings; her husband of 68 years, the Reverend Roy W. Hicks; and her great-granddaughter, Hope Marie McCoy.
Maxine is survived by her children, Biram (Trudy) Hicks, Melissa (Ann Brown) Hicks; grandchildren Thomas Evan Hicks, Sarah (Jonathan) Clardy, Nicolle (Scott) McCoy, Sarah Brown Duffer, the Reverend Katherine B. (Garrett) Johnson; five great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.
A celebration of Maxine’s life will follow at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, at the North Chapel. The burial will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to www.Lyon.edu – the Clyde and Delpha Beasley Hicks Endowed Scholarship, or to Xia-Gibbs Society, Inc. The Society seeks to provide support to and advocate for those with Xia-Gibbs Syndrome and their families to foster hope for the future. Donations may be made to www.xia-gibbs.org
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.